Intensive Outpatient Program
Intensive Outpatient Program at New Dawn
An Intensive Outpatient Program is structured addiction and mental health treatment where clients attend scheduled therapy sessions several times a week, and return home each night. For people who need more support than weekly therapy can provide, but who can’t step away from work, family, or daily life to enter residential treatment, IOP is often exactly the right level of care.
More than 5 million Californians reported meeting the criteria needed for substance use disorder treatment from 2022 to 2023 – but only 1 in 10 received care. For most of them, the barrier isn’t willingness. It’s access. A program that fits around real life removes one of the most common reasons people wait too long to get help.
At New Dawn Treatment Centers, intensive outpatient is available at multiple locations across Northern California and Nevada, with morning, afternoon, and evening scheduling options designed to fit around work, school, and even family responsibilities.
For those who can’t travel to one of our offices, the full program is also available virtually through our secure telehealth platform.
The same clinical depth that defines New Dawn’s residential programs – dedicated therapists, trauma-informed care, dual diagnosis treatment, and holistic supports – is woven into every IOP session.
Key Takeaways:
- Equal clinical depth to residential care
- In-network with major insurance providers
- Fast, no-cost admissions
- Lifetime aftercare included
- Holistic, experiential, and gender-specific programming available
What We Treat
What We Treat: Substance Use Disorders & Their Root Causes
New Dawn’s IOP addresses substance use disorders and the co-occurring mental health conditions that so often accompany them. Primary substances treated include alcohol, opioids, fentanyl, benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other stimulants. Co-occurring conditions – including anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and bipolar disorder – are treated as part of the same integrated clinical plan, not as a separate concern.
New Dawn does not provide primary mental health treatment. All mental health care within the IOP is delivered in the context of a co-occurring diagnosis alongside a primary substance use disorder.
How We Treat
IOP Care Built Around You
Treatment at New Dawn’s IOP isn’t generic. Every client works with a dedicated master’s-level therapist and a certified drug and alcohol counselor who carry individual caseloads – the same faces, every session, from the first week through discharge. Care is trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and built around an individualized treatment plan that accounts for the full clinical picture.
Our treatments include:
- Individualized assessments: A pre-admission assessment at no-cost determines the right level of care entry as well as builds the initial treatment plan before the first session begins
- Individual therapy: Regular one-on-one sessions with a dedicated master’s-level therapist address root causes, trauma history, and co-occurring mental health conditions
- Group therapy: Structured group sessions help to build coping skills, learn new relapse prevention tools, and even create peer accountability in a consistent and supportive setting
- Family therapy: Family members are invited into the process when clinically appropriate, and sessions are designed to address relational dynamics and strengthen the recovery support system
- Holistic and experiential supports: Mindfulness, yoga, art therapy, and other experiential approaches complement the clinical work we do as well as help to build real-world coping skills
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Available where clinically appropriate, supervised by medical staff, and coordinated with the broader treatment plan
- Relapse prevention planning: Our curriculum guides the group work – equipping clients with both immediate coping strategies and long-term tools for sustained recovery
- Discharge and aftercare planning: Begins at intake, not at the end of the program, so every client leaves with a clear and connected plan for what comes next
Understanding IOP
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program?
An Intensive Outpatient Program – more commonly called IOP – is a structured level of care that sits between the standard outpatient therapy and our residential treatment. It is more intensive than seeing a therapist once a week, but it doesn’t require living at a treatment facility full-time. Clients attend multiple sessions per week, live at home, and continue managing daily responsibilities throughout.
IOP is recognized by SAMHSA as an evidence-based level of care for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. It is one of the most widely used treatment models in California, and when delivered with clinical depth and individualized planning, it produces outcomes comparable to inpatient care for appropriate candidates.
At New Dawn, IOP is offered within a continuum of care that includes detox, residential treatment, Day Treatment (PHP), and lifetime aftercare. Clients who step down from residential treatment can transition directly into IOP with the same clinical team and treatment plan. No starting over, no adjustment period necessary.
What To Expect
What to Expect in Our IOP
Knowing what to expect before the first session reduces much of the uncertainty that keeps people from showing up. New Dawn’s IOP is structured to deliver meaningful clinical work within a schedule that doesn’t disrupt daily life – but structured enough to create real accountability and momentum. Sessions are held in private office settings – or virtually from home, not in hospitals, and the program’s rhythm is designed to build on itself week over week.
Here’s what a typical week looks like:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Session frequency | 3–5 sessions per week |
| Session length | 2–3 hours per session |
| Individual therapy | Regular one-on-one sessions with a dedicated therapist |
| Group therapy | Daily group sessions covering coping skills, relapse prevention, and the neurobiology of addiction |
| Family sessions | Available as part of the treatment plan when clinically appropriate |
| Scheduling | Morning, afternoon, and evening options available at most locations |
| Drug testing | Conducted at regular intervals to support accountability and sobriety |
| Location | Private office settings, or virtually from home - not in a hospital |
Sessions cover four core areas: coping skills that replace the urge to use, relapse prevention tools and what to do if a relapse occurs, neurobiology of addiction education, and patient-centered treatment planning. Group and individual family counseling are also integrated throughout.
New Dawn does not discharge clients who relapse. When a relapse occurs, the clinical team works with the client to minimize its impact and get back on track, because removing support at the most vulnerable moment doesn’t serve recovery.
Admissions Process
How To Start IOP at New Dawn
Most clients start within a day or two of that first call, at no cost beforehand.
- Connect with our admissions team: Call us or submit the insurance verification form, 24 hours a day.
- Free verification of benefits: We confirm your coverage, deductibles, and any out-of-pocket cost with you at no charge.
- Confidential clinical assessment: Our clinical team confirms IOP fits, rather than medical detox, residential treatment, or Day Treatment (PHP).
- Schedule your start date: We fit morning, afternoon, or evening sessions around your schedule at the location nearest you, or virtually.
- Complete intake paperwork: Your coordinator walks you through consents and intake forms.
- Begin treatment: You meet your therapist, get your weekly schedule, and start skill-building. Aftercare planning starts now.
Virtual Treatment
Virtual IOP: Full Intensive Outpatient Treatment, From Home
For many people, the biggest barrier to treatment isn’t motivation – it’s logistics. A commute that doesn’t fit around work, childcare that can’t be rearranged, or a location without a New Dawn office nearby. Our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program removes that barrier by delivering the same clinical programming as our in-person IOP through a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.
Virtual IOP clients join the same counselor-led group sessions and receive the same individual therapy, relapse prevention planning, and aftercare support as in-person clients. We simply send you a secure link by email, and our staff will make sure your technology is set up and working before your first session – and remain available to help throughout your treatment.
To participate in Virtual IOP, you will need:
- A laptop or tablet with a working camera and microphone, placed on a stable surface for the full session. A cell phone may be approved if it stays securely mounted the entire time.
- A private, well-lit space where you won’t be interrupted or overheard. Group sessions are confidential for everyone, so your camera should show your face and upper body against a non-distracting background.
- Full presence and participation. Clients must log in on time, remain on camera and viewable throughout each group session, and give the session their complete attention – no driving, cooking, or multitasking.
- Appropriate attire, just as you would dress for an in-person visit.
- Respect for confidentiality. Recording, photographing, or screenshotting sessions is strictly prohibited.
Program requirements:
- You must be located in the state where the licensed facility you’re admitted to is located while receiving virtual services.
- Drug testing continues in Virtual IOP. If you cannot come into your New Dawn location, you’ll complete a urine analysis test at intake and weekly (or as requested by your counselor) through an outside lab at your own cost, with results provided within 24 hours of a request.
- Individual counseling sessions and program assignments remain part of your treatment plan, and completing them on time is expected just as it is in person.
Before beginning virtual treatment, you’ll review and sign a telehealth informed consent with a member of our team, who will explain how virtual care differs from in-person services and answer your questions. In-person treatment remains available to you at any time.
Wondering whether Virtual IOP is right for you? Call (916) 741-5312 – our admissions team can complete a free assessment and help you choose the format that best supports your recovery.
Program Length
How Long Does Our Intensive Outpatient Program Last?
IOP at New Dawn generally runs six to eight weeks – though the timeline is determined by the individual’s clinical progress rather than a fixed calendar. Clients who need more time get more time. Clients who step down from residential or Day Treatment (PHP) may move through IOP as part of a longer continuum.
For clients completing at least the six to eight-week IOP program, New Dawn’s lifetime aftercare program provides free, weekly counselor-facilitated support groups for life – because the end of a formal program is a milestone, not a finish line.
Who It's For
Who Should Consider IOP
Not every level of care is right for every person, and placing someone in a program that doesn’t match their clinical needs does them a disservice. IOP works best when several conditions are in place: enough clinical support to address the full picture, without more structure than the individual actually needs.
The guide below helps clarify whether IOP is the right fit for you – though the most reliable answer always comes from a full clinical assessment, which New Dawn’s admissions team provides at no cost.
IOP tends to be a strong fit for clients who:
- Have a stable, substance-free home environment
- Are stepping down from residential or Day Treatment (PHP)
- Need more support than what weekly outpatient therapy provides
- Have work, school, or family responsibilities that make residential care impractical
- Are motivated to engage consistently in scheduled sessions
- Have a moderate level of substance use disorder without active medical withdrawal risk
IOP may not be the right starting point for clients who:
- Are in active withdrawal requiring medical supervision (detox must come first)
- Have an unstable or high-risk home environment
- Have severe co-occurring mental health conditions that require stabilization
- Have previously attempted outpatient without success – suggesting a higher level of structure is needed
If there is any uncertainty about whether IOP is the right fit, the admissions team will assess the full picture and recommend the most appropriate level of care at no cost and with no obligation.
Why Choose
Why Choose New Dawn for Your IOP?
There is no shortage of intensive outpatient programs across Northern California and Nevada. The difference between a program that works and one that doesn’t usually comes down to a handful of specifics: Who is actually providing the care, what happens when things get hard, and whether the support continues after the last session ends.
Here is what sets New Dawn’s IOP apart from standard outpatient options:
- Dedicated on-site therapists with individual caseloads – Clients work with the same master’s-level therapist throughout, not a rotating schedule of strangers
- Trauma-informed, multi-modal clinical approach – CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, ART, Brainspotting, Conscious Recovery curriculum, and Dr. Stephanie Covington’s gender-responsive programming
- Flexible scheduling – Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions are available at multiple locations across Northern California and Nevada
- No discharge for relapse – New Dawn works with clients through their setbacks rather than removing the support when it’s needed most
- Full continuum on-site – If a higher level of care is needed at any point, detox and residential programs are available through the same provider; no referral delays, no starting over
- Lifetime aftercare included – No-cost, weekly aftercare support groups for life for all IOP graduates with the largest alumni network in Northern California
- In-network with major insurance providers – Benefits are verified before the first session; no surprise billing
- One-Year Sober Guarantee – Clients who complete the 90-day residential program and experience a relapse within one year may return for treatment at no cost
At New Dawn, these aren’t just selling points. They’re the minimum standard.
Why Choose Us
The New Dawn Difference
Our unique curriculum incorporates teachings of TJ Woodward’s Conscious Recovery as well as Dr. Stephanie Covington’s trauma-informed and gender-responsive programs.
- DHCS Licensed, NAATP, & Carf Accredited
- Licensed & Masters Level Therapists
- Major Insurance Accepted - Verify now
- Separate Men’s & Women’s Programs
- Lifetime Aftercare Support
- Largest Alumni Network in California
- Private Rooms w/ Ensuite Bathrooms
- Trauma Informed Therapy Including A.R.T.
- Evidence-Based Therapies
- Content review by our Clinical Director
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
An IOP is structured addiction treatment delivered three to five days per week in multi-hour blocks while you continue living at home. It provides far more support than weekly therapy without requiring an overnight stay. Co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD are treated inside the same plan through dual diagnosis care, alongside a primary substance use disorder.
You attend counselor-led groups and regular one-on-one sessions with a dedicated therapist, complete assignments between meetings, and practice new skills in the environment where you actually live. Drug testing at regular intervals and family involvement, where clinically appropriate, help you carry recovery tools into real life.
- Sessions run in morning, afternoon, or evening blocks, so treatment fits around work, school, and caregiving instead of replacing them.
- Skills get practiced in your own home and workplace, then brought back to the next group for coaching while the situation is still fresh.
- Residential treatment carries a higher out-of-pocket cost for many insured clients, while IOP keeps the same dedicated-therapist model and clinical depth.
- Medical detox, residential care, Day Treatment, and lifetime aftercare all sit with one provider, so stepping up or down never means starting over with a new team.
Most clients spend six to eight weeks in IOP, though the timeline follows clinical progress and personal goals rather than a fixed calendar. Clients who need more time get more time. Everyone who completes the program joins New Dawn's lifetime aftercare and alumni support, with free weekly counselor-facilitated groups for life.
IOP is not universally better, it is more intensive. If weekly outpatient therapy has not given you enough structure, the multi-day schedule, group accountability, and regular testing built into IOP can provide the added support that was missing. Your assessment is what determines the right fit.
Day Treatment, also called PHP, runs most days of the week for most of the day and is the higher level of care of the two. IOP meets multiple days per week for fewer total hours, leaving more of your week open for work and family. Your assessment determines the right starting point.
Yes. New Dawn is a preferred provider with Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield and Blue Cross, Cigna, Kaiser, Optum, TriCare, TriWest, UnitedHealthcare, and the VA. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so submit our free insurance verification form and we will confirm your benefits before your first session, at no cost and with no obligation.
We Are Recovery Experts
Our One Year Sober Guarantee
We understand that recovery is not always a straight path, and relapses can occur. That’s why we offer a One-Year Sober Guarantee. If you complete one of our 90-day residential programs and experience a relapse within a year, you can return for treatment at no cost. Your success is important to us; we are dedicated to helping you stay on track.
With a 95% client satisfaction rate, we take pride in providing compassionate, effective, and individualized care to help you or your loved one build a foundation for lasting sobriety.
Let Us Lead the Way
Get Treatment At Our Intensive Outpatient Program in California and Nevada
Recovery that works around real life isn’t a compromise. It’s how most people actually get and stay better.
New Dawn’s IOP gives clients access to the same clinical depth as residential treatment, in a format that doesn’t require putting everything on pause. In-network with most major insurance providers, offers flexible financing through My Treatment Lender, and provides special pricing for Veterans, First Responders, Union workers, and alumni. Insurance is verified before the first session – no cost, no obligation.
The admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most clients are admitted within 24 to 48 hours of that first call.
Call (916) 741-5312 to get started.
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Know Exactly What you are Covered For and How Long
Save Thousands by Choosing Us
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